Figure toy



Nov. 3, 1925- A. M. HAMMER FIGURE TOY v FildMay 13, 1924 Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

ALICE M. HAMMER, OF HILLSBORO, OREGON.

' FIGURE TOY.

Application filed. May 13, 1924. Serial No. 713,009.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Amen M. HA MER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsboro, in the county of lVashingtoi i, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Figure Toy; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to figured toys, and has for its object to provide a device of this character, which device may be used as a toy, and preferably as an advertising device for bathing suits, at seashore resorts, or in windows of merchants who vend bathing suits.

A further object is to provide a figured top comprising a tank, one end of which is provided with a compartment simulating a bathing house, and from which bathing house a spring board extends, and over which spring board figures move in an upright position and are tipped to diving position at the end the springing board.

A further object is to provide a U-shaped pipe disposed within the tank, and into one end of which figures dive. The pipe forms means for obscuring the figures from view during their return movement to the bath house.

A further object is to provide at the outer end of the springing board an upwardly extending member adapted to be engaged by the feet of the figures for tilting the pivotally mounted figures to diving position.

A further object is to pivotally mount the figures on oppositely disposed endless flexible members, which members extend through the U-shaped pipe, thereby insuring the carrying of the figures into the L shaped pipe, and to provide motor means within thebath house and having gear connection whereby the flexible members will be simultaneously moved at the same speed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

showing the bath house in horizontal cross i I section. I

Figure 3 1s a transverse sectional view through the forward end of the device, showing the mechanism and bath house in front 3 elevation.

F igure 4 is a detailperspective view of a portion of one of the chains or flexible members, showing one of the figure supporting rods pivotally mounted therein.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a rectangular shaped tank which is preferably formed from metal, and in' which water 2 is placed. Disposed within the tank 1, and entirely covered by water 2 v i is a U shaped return pipe 3, and which return pipe may be shaded or tinted to prevent the same from being easily seen, and if desired the water 2 may be colored, for instance with a bluing to further conceal the return tube 3. Extending upwardly from one end of the tank 1 is a casing l, which casing is preferably shaped like a bath house, and has its front side provided with an opening 5 through which the figures 6 pass to diving positions. The opening 5 is preferably closed by means of curtains 7 which are parted by the figures, and which curtains conceal the operating mechanism disposed within the casing creasing the deception, and at the same time concealing the mechanism, so that persons observing the device in operation can not easily figure system of operating the device.

ing outwardly from the bath house 4, is a platform 8 which represents the springing board, and over which platform the figures 6 move in an upright position as shown in 1, thereby in- W Disposed above the tank 1, and extend- Figure 1. Extending upwardly from the bottom of the tank 1 are brackets 9, in the upper ends of which are rotatably mounted rotatably mounted'in bearings'of brackets axially aligned shafts 10, which shafts are r r 11 carried by the horizontally disposed chain guide channels 12. Shafts 10 are provided with worm gears 13, with which gears worms 14 of rearwardly extending drive shafts 16 engage; therefore it will'be seen that'as the shafts 15 are simultaneously rotated, the endless chains 16 will rotate, and consequently the figures 6 which are carried by the bars 17 will. be moved in the direction of the arrow (4. Bars 17 are pivotally mounted at 18 in the endless chain 16, and the figures 6 carried thereby are preferably provided with counterweights 19 for normally maintaining the figures in vertical position. As the figures move in the direction of the arrow a, the feet 20 thereof come into engagement with the upwardly extending member 21 of the platform 6, and consequently, owing to the delicate balance of the figures, the lower ends .of the figures will be forced upwardly and the figures compelled to assume a diving position as shown in Figure 1. Before the figures 6 have a chance to again swing to vertical position the upper ends 22 thereof enter the open end 23 of the U-shaped pipe 3, and through which U-shaped pipe the chalns 16 extend, therefore it will be seen that the figures will be held against assuming a vertical position until they leave the end 24 of the U-shaped pipe, and enter the bath house 4 where they are allowed to assume vertical position for moving outwardly over the platform 8. The chains 16 extend over sprockets 25 carried by the axially aligned shafts 10, therefore it will be seen that said chains will be simultaneously rotated and the figure supporting rods 17 maintained in transverse position at all times. It will be noted that by providing the axially alined shafts 10, the figures 6 may pass through and between the adjacent ends thereof without interference from the shafts.

The rear ends of the endless sprocket chains 16 extend over sprockets 26 mounted on axially alined shafts 27 disposed within the bath house 1, and which sprockets are driven by means of an electric motor 28 disposed within the bath house, and which motor is belted to one of the shafts 27 by means of the pulleys 28, 29 and the belt 30. Shafts 15 are rotated through the medium of the counter shaft 31 which has bevel gear connections 32 with the shafts 15, and also is in turn driven by the shaft 21 through the medium of pulleys 33 and 84: of a belt 35. The pulleys and gearing of the various parts for driving the sprockets 28 and the sprockets 25 are proportioned whereby said sprockets will be driven at the same speed, and the purpose of which is to insure the chains moving at the same speed and maintaining the rods 17 in transverse position, and at the same time preventing theformation of'slack in the upper portion of the endless chain, consequently eliminates vibration of the figures as they move out wardly over the platform 8.

From the above it will be seen that a figured toy is provided wherein figures, representing swimmers, will simulate diving operations, in a manner whereby the operating mechanism will be concealed from view. It will also be seen that the device is particularly adapted for advertising bathing suits as the figures can be dressed in different colors and types of suits on a small scale, and the various styles displayed to prospective purchasers in this manner.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A figure toy comprising a tank adapted to receive water therein, an endless conveyor, counter-weighted pivoted figurescarried by said conveyor, a pipe in said tank and through which said endless conveyor extends and means for tilting said'counterweighted figures whereby they will simulate diving operations into the tank and pipe.

2. A figure toy comprising a tank for the reception of water, an endless conveyor, one portion of said endless conveyor being disposed within the water and the other portion above the water, a pipe disposed within the tank and through which one portion of the conveyor moves, pivoted counterweighted figures carried by said endless conveyor and normally in vertical position, a platform above the water of the tank and a member carried by said platform whereby said figures will be forced upwardly at their lower ends for simulating diving operations into the pipe within the tank.

3. A figure toy comprising a tank for the reception of water, a U-shaped pipe disposed within the tank, the arms of said U-shaped pipe extending upwardly, an endless con veyor, one portion of said conveyor being disposed above the tank, the other portion of said conveyor being disposed within the U-shaped pipe and movable therethrough, means for driving said conveyor, pivoted normally vertically disposed counterweighted figures carried by'the conveyor and figure turning means whereby said figures when they reach a predetermined position are inverted to positions for simulating a diving operation into one of the upwardly extending arms of the U-shaped pipe.

4:. A figure toy comprising a tank, a U- shaped pipe disposed within said tank, an endless conveyor having one of its portions extending through said pipe and movable therethrough, said conveyor being formed from spaced flexible members,transversely disposed rods connecting the flexible mernbers, pivoted counterweighted figures mounted on said rods, a platform above the U- shaped pipe and adjacent the lower ends of the figures when in vertical'position, and

a member carried by said platform for'engaging the lower ends of the figures and inverting the same to positions whereby they will simulate a diving action into one end of the pipe.

5. A figure toy comprising a tank, an

endless conveyor having one of its portions above the tank and its other portion disposed within the tank, a U-shaped pipe disposed within the tank and through which said last named portion of the conveyor extends, the outer arm of the U-shaped pipe terminating adjacent the outer end of the conveyor, a casing carried by one end of the tank and under which the inner end of the pipe ere tends, figures pivotally mounted on the conveyor and normallyin vertical position as they move outwardly, and means for engaging said figures and inverting the same to diving positions when they are adjacent the outer end of the pipe.

6. The combination with a figure toy comprising endless conveyors in spaced relation, pivoted counterbalanced figures carried by said conveyors and disposed therebe tween, of means for supporting and driving said conveyor, said means comprising axially alined shafts, sprockets mounted on said shafts and worm and gear means for rotating said shafts located outside of the conveyors, said axially alined shafts being disposed outside of the conveyors.

7. The combination with a figure diving toy comprising an endless conveyor, means for moving said conveyor, a pipe through which one portion of said conveyor moves,

of diving counterweighted figures pivotally mounted on the conveyor and means cooperating with said figuresduring the movement of the conveyor, whereby said figures will be pivotally moved to inverted diving position as they reach positions for entering the pipe. v V 1 In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALICE 'M. HAMMER. 

